The increasing number of pandemic cases, makes you have to stay at home and reduce activities outside. Well, to meet various needs, of course, you can shop online. There are already many online shops and marketplaces that provide online shopping facilities easily, cheaply, and even free shipping! But you still have to be aware of the dangers of fraud that lurk. Here are some safe online shopping tips to keep your heart at ease.
Tips for Safe Online Shopping from Home
Choose a Seller with a Good Reputation
To do online shopping, there are many platforms that provide it, it can be through social media, shopping websites, to the marketplace. For security, marketplace or e-commerce can be the right choice. This third party will facilitate so that the buying and selling process is safe and the goods can be ensured to reach the buyer. In the marketplace, of course, there are many sellers, choose one that has good ratings and reviews or who has become an official store or star seller.
Check Signs of Safe Online Shopping Sites
Maybe many people are not too aware about this. Before shopping online, you should check whether the website page is safe and your data is protected. You do this by paying attention to the bar at the front of the site's address. If there is a lock sign, it means the site is safe to use and data privacy is maintained. Then when entering credit card data, make sure the site address changes from 'http' to 'https'.
Research Before Buying
The main disadvantage of online shopping is not being able to see the product in person. It's like buying a cat in a sack. So, to avoid this, you should look at the product photos and their descriptions. Or if something is not clear, you can ask the seller. This is to avoid disappointment when the product arrives and does not meet expectations. Well, although in some cases, this can happen.
Compare Prices
Online and offline selling prices are often different and it could be that the selling price on online platforms is cheaper. Then also usually the same item can be sold at a different price in each store. The advantage of online shopping is that you can compare prices and find the cheapest one. So save even more!
Transfer Security
Some perpetrators of online fraud often persuade prospective buyers to transact outside the marketplace. Well, of course this is dangerous and no party can be held responsible. So you should still make transactions on the platform. If you buy directly from an online shop, make sure before making a transfer, check your account.
Read the Return or Refund Policy
Sometimes when the groceries arrive, it turns out that the size doesn't match, there is a lack of quantity, or other things. Well, you should find out how the procedure for exchanging or returning goods is. Each marketplace has its own policy for this and make sure you are aware of it.
Ensure Device Security
The next online shopping tip is to ensure device security. When shopping online, prioritize using a personal laptop or smartphone device. Avoid shopping using public devices because their security is not guaranteed. It is also recommended that your device has an active antivirus to prevent hacking and other things that can be harmful.
Check Packages and Remove Data Traces
After the transaction went smoothly and the package arrived home safely, there is one more thing that you need to pay attention to. This is the data on the package delivery label. There are names, cellphone numbers, and addresses which if thrown away can make your personal data leak. Before disposing of the package wrapper, be sure to tear and destroy the indicated data.
Those are some online shopping tips that you can apply to stay safe, smooth, and get cheap prices.